ARLINGTON, Va.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--The following statement is attributed to Gary Shapiro, president and
CEO, Consumer Technology Association (CTA), regarding U.S. Trade
Representative Robert Lighthizer’s trade agenda testimony before the
Senate Finance Committee and House Ways and Means Committee:

“International trade and the ability for companies of all sizes to
source, sell and compete in the global marketplace must be at the heart
of the NAFTA renegotiation and other trade deals the administration is
pursuing. To ensure the administration's stated goal of strengthening
trade agreements to benefit our nation, we must resist protectionism and
focus on modernizing our trade agreement models by including provisions
addressing cross-border data flows, fair use and intermediary liability
protections and promoting international harmonization of standards and
regulations. U.S. trade policy must not harm the more than 1.5 million
American jobs that rely on tech exports. Tech exports generated $379
billion, or 17 percent of total U.S. exports, in 2015, according to
CTA's U.S.
Economic Contribution of the Consumer Technology Sector Report.

“We look forward to working with Ambassador Lighthizer as the
administration continues to review national trade policy with an eye
toward growing our economy and creating U.S. jobs.”

Consumer Technology Association (CTA)TM is the trade
association representing the $292 billion U.S. consumer technology
industry, which supports more than 15 million U.S. jobs. More than 2,200
companies – 80 percent are small businesses and startups; others are
among the world’s best known brands – enjoy the benefits of CTA
membership including policy advocacy, market research, technical
education, industry promotion, standards development and the fostering
of business and strategic relationships. CTA also owns and produces CES®
– the world’s gathering place for all who thrive on the business of
consumer technologies. Profits from CES are reinvested into CTA’s
industry services.